Cumbrian music festival Kendal Calling has raised over £55,000 for charity.
The 2023 event last month at Lowther Deer Park, near Penrith, raised a total of £55,735 for local charities, organisations and other deserving causes through donations, merchandise sales, guest list donations, on site activations and more.
Charities benefiting from festival-goers generosity included Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakes, North West Air Ambulance, Eden Animal Rescue, Alder Hey Children’s Charity, Guide Dogs, James’ Place, Penrith Lion, Growing Well and Askham Outdoor Swimming.
Cara Varty, of the hospice at home’s fundraising team, said: “It was a very humbling and memorable experience, as we had a record-breaking year raising over £19,000. The fields were a mass of sunflowers, we can’t thank our supporters, or Kendal Calling enough!”
Money raised through coffee sales at Tim Burgess’ on-site venue Tim Peaks Diner has gone towards Help Us Help Bands. The new fund, set up by Kendal Calling and Tim, offers support for new artists.
The fund will donate money to up-and-coming bands to allow them to record new music, buy merchandise and much more. The first donations from this fund have gone to help English Teacher get back on the road after having their equipment stolen and to The Maddocks who played Kendal Calling this year to invest in merchandise.
Andy Smith, founder of Kendal Calling, said: “We’re happy to announce that Kendal Calling 2023 collected a record sum of over £55,000 for various worthy causes.
“In addition, we will be directing funds to local initiatives like schools, sports, and carnival groups in the region. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to the 2023 festival and to all the incredible volunteers whose support and time makes these donations possible.”
Since its inception, Kendal Calling has raised over £250,000 for good causes.
Kendal Calling festival will be back next year, from August 1 to August 4.
